---
name: "sq-key-password"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "sequoia-sq"
version: "1.4.1-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/sq-key-password"
---

# sq-key-password(1)

Change the password protecting secret key material

## NAME

sq-key-password - Change the password protecting secret key material

## SYNOPSIS

**sq key password** \[*OPTIONS*\]

## DESCRIPTION

Change the password protecting secret key material.

Secret key material can be protected by a password.  This subcommand changes or clears the password.

To strip the password either use \`--clear\` or supply a zero-length password when prompted for the new password.

If a key is password protected, and the correct password was not supplied using the \`--password-file\` argument, the user is prompted for the password.  Likewise, if the new password isn't provided, the user is prompted.

## OPTIONS

### Subcommand options

- **--cert**=*FINGERPRINT\|KEYID*

  Change the password for the secret key material from the key with the specified fingerprint or key ID

- **--cert-email**=*EMAIL*

  Change the password for the secret key material from the key where a user ID includes the specified email address

- **--cert-file**=*PATH*

  Change the password for the secret key material from the key read from PATH

- **--cert-userid**=*USERID*

  Change the password for the secret key material from the key with the specified user ID

- **--clear-password**

  Clear the password protecting the secret key material

- **--new-password-file**=*PASSWORD\_FILE*

  File containing password to encrypt the secret key material

-

  Note that the entire key file will be used as the password including any surrounding whitespace like a trailing newline.

- **--output**=*FILE*

  Write to FILE or stdout if omitted

### Global options

See [**sq**(1)](/sq/1.md) for a description of the global options.

## EXAMPLES

Change the password for all of Alice's keys to the password in the specified file.

```
sq key password --new-password-file password-file.txt --cert \
EB28F26E2739A4870ECC47726F0073F60FD0CBF0
```

Clear the password protection for all of Alice's keys.

```
sq key password --password-file password-file.txt \
--clear-password --cert \
EB28F26E2739A4870ECC47726F0073F60FD0CBF0
```

## SEE ALSO

[**sq**(1)](/sq/1.md), [**sq-key**(1)](/sq-key/1.md).

For the full documentation see \<https://book.sequoia-pgp.org/\>.

## VERSION

1\.4.1